President Felipe Calderon of Mexico visited the Monarch butterfly preserves in Michoacan last week to film an IMAX film and call attention to the importance of the butterflies’ unique ancestral roosting spots to the sustainable economic development of the impoverished communities surrounding them.

Late February and early March are ideal for visiting the sanctuaries since rising temperatures warm up the butterflies and make them more active.

Unfortunately, tourism at the roosting areas, including visits from scientists who make such pilgrimages the basis for their life’s work, has fallen dramatically in recent years because of narco violence and instability in the region. U.S.-based tour operators have pretty much ceased offering Monarch butterfly sanctuary tours because of potential liabilities. (An exception: Bill Toone’s EcoLife Foundation.)

The U.S. State Department advised Americans to avoid “non-essential travel” to 14 of Mexico’s 31 states in an amped-up travel warning on February 8. The warning came on the heels of a 15-ton meth seizure outside Guadalajara and expanded on previous advisories that has Mexican tourism authorities annoyed.

While informal reports of this years’ visitor count to El Rosario Sanctuary list slight increases in ecotourism (up to 100,000 from 80,000 last year), the butterfly preserves need all the help they can get. Fewer visitors means locals will have to seek other ways of earning a living, including illegal logging. My husband and I braved Mexico last year to visit the sanctuaries and it was a memorable, monumental trip; however, not sure I would do it again until the situation changes there.

It’s unfortunate, but travel in Mexico right now is just too potentially dangerous. Driving through the Mexican provinces, once a common adventure for many Texans, now is fraught with risk, sometimes death. Says the advisory: “TCOs [Transnational Criminal Organizations] have erected their own unauthorized checkpoints, and killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You should cooperate at all checkpoints.” Doesn’t sound like much of a vacation.

The good news is that migrating Monarch butterflies are already on their way to Texas. The active DPLEX list, a Monarch butterfly list-serv that charts the creatures’ every move, has reports of first-of-season sightings and egg-laying on South Texas milkweeds, which are emerging early this year because of our warm winter.

As the Spring Equinox approaches and the migrating insects leave Mexico, they’ll nectar up for their journey north, head our way, and grace us with their joyous presence. On March 15, the state-of-the-union report of the Monarch butterfly population for 2011-2012 will be released by Mexican authorities. We’ll keep you posted.